Thanksgiving Activities and Christmas International House

The holidays are fast approaching, and the staff here at ISSP would like to encourage all international students and scholars to take advantage of one of the many opportunities to experience Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Thanksgiving

A variety of Atlanta-based groups offer Thanksgiving programs geared towards International students, and one of them certain to be a perfect fit for you.

International Thanksgiving, 2008 is hosted by First Baptist Church Woodstock, in Woodstock Georgia. A traditional American Thanksgiving Menu will be served along with other menu selections. Entertainment and door prizes will be provided to make the day enjoyable for all. Go and enjoy the meal and fellowship with people from many other cultures around the world.

AMIS also sponsors a Thanksgiving program which will match you with an Atlanta family for the Thanksgiving Holiday. If you are interested in this program, click on the link for more information http://www.amis-inc.org/students_thanksgiving.asp .

Christmas International House

Time is running out! Deadline for signups is November 22!

Christmas International House is an ecumenical program providing hospitality to international students during the Christmas holidays – a time when students have no place to go, when dormitories close and they are unable to return home. Through the hospitality of churches and civic groups, Christmas International House witnesses to the reality that, behind diverse manners of dress, religious affiliations, and political ideologies, everyone stands together as one human family. Dialogue and exchange of ideas characterize the program - peacemaking at the grass-roots level.

In addition, the program:

• gives the students an opportunity to be with American families and to see different sections of the country
• gives American families and students an opportunity for cross-cultural exchange.
• gives international students an opportunity to express their criticisms of American policy in a constructive manner. At the same time American citizens can help correct false impressions of our policy and way of life.
• gives people a means of expressing concern for world peace in concrete ways.
• offers situations in which students may get to know each other, particularly students whose nations are hostile to each other.
• provide a place for reunion for students from the same home country.
• gives local churches an opportunity to see the world-wide church more concretely as international Christians actively participate in worship services and church school programs.
• gives new meaning to Christmas as church members relate to non-Christians, and to Christians who celebrate Christmas in different ways.
• creates a ministry which might stimulate uninvolved church members to become involved and active in their congregations.
• utilizes the facilities of churches in a unique kind of ministry and service and creates a unique ecumenical ministry among several churches within a community.

For all questions about your application, please see your International Student Advisor or call:

CIH Registration Office
3434 Roswell Road, NW
Atlanta, GA 30305-1202
Phone: 404-846-4396
www.christmasih.org

Email at information@christmasih.org

The CIH Registration Office is open
through November 22
Phone Hours: 10:00 - 12:00 and 1:00 - 4:00 (Eastern)
Monday - Friday